Thread: Canon EOS 550D Vs Nikon D5100 advice?

I'm a Canon ... pretty sure that both Canon and Nikon make a good quality camera.
My only advice is to steer away from the kit lenses (you'll quickly outgrow them) and perhaps look on the second hand market for a 60D, 7D or older 5D.

but I guess that all depends if she's keen on learning how to take a photo off the full automatic setting.

Before you go in with the cankon blinders on, if you get a chance check out the sony alpha dslt range like the a65 and a77, these are great cameras in my opinion and are well priced.
They have features that some high priced dlsr's do not have, such as EVF and autofocus while shooting video @ 1080-50p, they do autostitch panorama's and shoot 10(a65) and 12(a77) frames per sec in burst mode while autofocusing. They are a micro 4/3 camera and they use a translucent mirror instead of a reflex mirror but they shoot @ 24mp and you can use SD cards which cuts the costs a little.

They are new tech and have some things that need fixing but that will happen a few generations down the track no doubt. But they do the job.
I don't work for sony, but do use sony cameras for work so I am somewhat biased, but it is just my two cents and i think it is worth a google.

This is a pic I shot with an a65 using the 3.5-5.6/18-55 kit lens, there is some photoshopping going on.

It's almost a Ford/ Holden thing...

I'm a Canon man, I have good friends who swear by Nikon. To be honest, you can't tell what camera was used to take the print hanging on the wall, only that they take great photographs. And, an image captured on 1 12 megapixel DSLR seems to be far superior to other 12 megapixel images.

If she knows what she is getting, take her to a photographic specialist and handle both, its ease of use that decides which is better. And, I disagree about lens kits, I thinkk they are a great way to get started. You can often buy a deal with 2 lenses for only a little bit more than the standard lens price (a colleague just bought a Canon twin lens kit for less than a single lens set).

If not, you'll have to do the try before you buy. Look for ease of use, buttons that are simple and robust, settings that are easy to understand. You can guess if it feels right...

HTH

agreed - try before you buy - I'm a Nikon person and so was my daughter until she handled a Canon and found it suited her photographic style better - she says the controls were more intuitive and easy to use and she couldn't really tell the difference in the photos enough to make a difference. The trouble with most 4/3rds cameras is that there is a lot of in camera 'processing' going on and sometimes it shows in the pics when you blow them up

Thanks guys, she's going to drop in to Ted's or Michael's today and have a play, then we'll find the best price on whatever she wants....

Keep the advice coming.....

Cheers,

Fraser

This is probably the cheapest place to buy:
http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/...?idCategory=20

Either are good. Though if you can stretch to a higher spec model...

What will she be using the camera for? e.g. landscaspes /portraits, high speed stuff, wildlife, etc...

FWIW - I own 2 canons and a Nikon. Most recent purchase was a D300s which is perfect for what we do.

I have the canon 550 and I have upgraded the lenses now but the kit ones are good while learning if I bought another slr body I'd stick with canon, there easy to use and take great shots

yep holden / ford

I have a Nikon and absolutely love it, the main reason why I went for it is because I liked the feel of it in my hand and where the controls fell under my fingers. (other reason why is I have a film nikon and the lenses fitted) but I did check out the cannon and in my opinion it is really semantics the difference between them. they both make superb lenses and each have a matching camera to the other both in $$ and performance.

The simple truth is no one can tell from the photo the brand of camera that took it, so to cut a long answer short either will be a good camera

Something to consider with both of them is the easy of HRD photos, a bit down the track from novice but it adds another dimension to your photography, it's the only thing I dont like about my D300s it's more complicated than I would like to use. I wouldn't have a clue with is better but that would tip me one way or the other in my desision of which to buy.